After 20 years on the job, Ali Leate is still looks forward to going to work every morning.
Ali, 38, of Grays Point works in the hospitality area of Frank Vickery Village, Sylvania.
And after all this time, she still loves the work and the residents.
Ali, who is a person with Down syndrome, celebrated the milestone of 20 years of employment at Frank Vickery Village on Friday, June 3.
Ali is a care service employee and works Monday to Friday, 20 hours per week in the kitchen and dining area at the village, setting up and cleaning tables and assisting with activities,
She found her job through Jobsupport which is Australia's largest disability employment service for people with moderate intellectual disabilities.
Jobsupport provided her initial training and ongoing support.
Ali is great fun and a hit with the residents, a Jobsupport spokesman said.
‘’Ali’s 20 years employment is really quite incredible. A true example of disability employment and not possible without the combined efforts of the employer, the co-workers, the family, and the specialist disability employment service all pulling together to make it work.’’
To mark her 20 years of employment, Frank Vickery Village held a morning tea for Ali and her family.
At the morning tea a banner was unveiled with handprints in rainbow colours and congratulations of the residents and bearing the message, ‘Congratulations Ali, your beautiful hands have served many well.’
Ali’s mum, Marilyn said, “We are very proud of Ali and this amazing achievement in her life.
‘’She has always been a delightful person to all she meets and loves the residents and all her co-workers with all her heart,’’ Mrs Leate said.
‘’She wakes every morning anxious to get to work and misses everyone when on holidays.
‘’The village has been a wonderful place to be and the staff are fabulous and support her in activities in and out of work hours.
‘’Jobsupport are very supportive and certainly found the right placement for her 20 years ago.’’
